Flint Youth Theatre announces open auditions and technical interviews forTo Kill a Mockingbird. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel written by Harper Lee and adapted by Christopher Sergel, To Kill a Mockingbird will be directed by FYT Executive Artistic Director, William P. Ward and will be on the FYT stage April 8 through 23. Auditions are open to all students in grades 5 and above. Technical interviews are open to all students in grades 7 and above. Auditions and technical interviews will be held Tuesday, February 22 and are from 6:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. with check-in beginning after 6:00 P.M. All auditions and interviews will take place at FYT, 1220 East Kearsley Street in the Flint Cultural Center, using FYT’s Main Entrance.

It is 1935 in a quiet southern town. Scout is a young girl about to experience the dramatic events that will affect the rest of her life. She and brother Jem are being raised by their widower father, Atticus and by a strong-minded housekeeper, Calpurnia. Wide-eyed Scout is fascinated by the people of her small town, but there’s a rumble of thunder just under the calm surface of life here. The black people of the community have a special feeling about Scout’s father and she doesn’t know why. A few of her white friends are inexplicably hostile and Scout doesn’t understand this, either. Unpleasant things are shouted and the bewildered girl turns to her father. Atticus, a lawyer, explains he’s defending a young black man wrongfully accused of a grave crime. Since this is causing such an upset, Scout wants to know why he’s doing it. “Because if I didn’t,” her father replies, “I couldn’t hold my head up.”

Those auditioning are asked to wear a loose shirt, sweat pants, tennis shoes and have hair pulled back. No skirts, jeans or head coverings. In addition to roles of older characters as well as those of children, three main speaking roles for students will be cast from the auditions:

Actors who are older than the ages of the characters will be considered if they can believably play the ages of these characters. Height and physical maturity will be factors. FYT is committed to ethnically mixed companies.

Rehearsals for To Kill a Mockingbird will begin Monday, February 28. Performances of To Kill a Mockingbird will run from April 8 through 23. For further information about auditions, interviews or performances call FYT at 810.237.1530.

To Kill a Mockingbird will be choreographed by FYT Associate Artist, Margaret A. Mead-Finizio, designed by Ward and FYT Artistic Director Designate, Jeremy Winchester and will feature FYT Associate Artistic Director, Walter Hill as Atticus Finch. The large company will include FYT Resident Artists and Guests Artists as well as student actors and stage crew.

To Kill a Mockingbird replaces Our Town as the April production in FYT’s 2010-2011 season. Our Town will be a part of FYT’s 2011-2012 season.